A beacon of resilience, Alaa Abd El Fattah, Egypt’s most famous political prisoner, finally walked free and was embraced by his mother early Tuesday morning. His release followed a presidential pardon issued just the day before, marking a pivotal moment after years of advocacy.
This emotional reunion culminates a relentless, years-long international campaign, which saw global leaders, Nobel laureates, and prominent celebrities unite to secure the freedom of one of Egypt’s most recognized pro-democracy figures from the 2011 Arab Spring.
On Monday, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt granted a pardon to Mr. Abd El Fattah, who had endured nearly 12 years behind bars, as well as five other detainees.
At 43 years old, Mr. Abd El Fattah’s journey to freedom has been fraught. He was initially released from a prior sentence in 2019, only to be rearrested six months later, remaining imprisoned until now.
Joy erupted in the family home in Giza on Tuesday morning as Mr. Abd El Fattah danced and celebrated, surrounded by jubilant well-wishers. News footage captured the heartwarming scene, showing his sister, a fellow seasoned activist, and his mother, Laila Soueif, beaming with an overwhelming happiness, despite her noticeable weight loss from a prolonged hunger strike she and her son had undertaken.
The daunting prospect of Mr. Abd El Fattah’s indefinite detention drove both him and his mother, Ms. Soueif, to undertake hunger strikes, severe actions that frequently resulted in her hospitalization. Their resolute campaign was instrumental in escalating pressure on Britain, their shared country of citizenship, to actively advocate for his freedom.
Ms. Soueif, however, emphasized that their family’s joy would only be truly complete when every political prisoner in Egypt was granted freedom.
Addressing a Reuters news crew at her home, she stated, “They are still on our mind. The great joy will be when none of them remain in prison.”
Since President el-Sisi assumed power in 2013, Egyptian authorities have detained tens of thousands of individuals perceived as political opponents. A majority of these individuals have remained in custody for months or even years, often without facing trial or formal sentencing.
Instead of releasing these prisoners once they’ve served the legal maximum for pretrial detention, prosecutors have frequently introduced new charges, effectively extending their confinement indefinitely.
Egyptian officials have offered conflicting narratives, either denying the existence of political prisoners or justifying the widespread arrests as vital for maintaining security in the aftermath of the Arab Spring’s upheaval. Many detainees have been labeled as terrorists or accused of violating laws against disseminating false information.
Mr. Abd El Fattah’s situation, however, diverged from the norm, possibly due to intense international pressure. He was notably removed from Egypt’s official terrorist list this summer, and earlier in the month, President el-Sisi personally instructed authorities to review his petition for release.
Sanaa Seif, Mr. Abd El Fattah’s sister, informed Reuters that her brother’s primary desire, once his travel restrictions are lifted, would likely be to travel internationally to reunite with his son.